CA2463303A1

CA2463303A1 - Unknown

Info

Publication number: CA2463303A1
Application number: CA 2463303
Authority: CA
Inventors: Loyd Bateman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-04-26
Filing date: 2004-04-26
Publication date: 2005-10-26

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a leash and a hand-activated waste and refuse device, especially the type which is used to keep pets under control and clean up any litter or refuse left behind by their pets.
In large urban areas pet owners walk their pets, usually dogs, and local ordinances have been enacted which require that such owners pets musts he kept on a leash and any litter or refuse left behind by their pets must be cleaned up.
Thus, there is a need for a mufti-function device which can control animals and quickly and sanitarily clean up after the animal.
There are several products that are designed to retrieve litter or refuse left behind by pets, however, many urban areas require animals also be kept on a leash. Prior art litter or refuse retrieval devices which are being used today axe additional to the pet leash, which can create a real inconvenience to pet owners. Pet owners would have to take along two separate devices, one for controlling the pet and one for cleaning up after the pet. It would be an inconvenience to the pet owner because it occupies both hands. Also, being that the retrieval device is additional to the leash it could easily be forgotten.
It is an objective of this invention to provide an apparatus which supplies users with a leash to control their pets, and a hand-activated waste and refuse retrieval device, which enables the user to clean up any litter or refuse left behind by their pet. This device is capable of performing both functions.
It is also an objective to provide an apparatus which is inexpensive to manufacture. These and other objectives will become apparent from the following description.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
There is disclosed herein a mufti-purpose apparatus which includes a mufti-purpose handle, retractable leash and a pair of scoops. This allows pet owners to maintain control of the pet and permit retrieval of litter or refuse. This device is believed to overcome the problems of prior art devices.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig-1 is a perspective side view of the mufti-purpose device in a closed position.
Fig-2 is a perspective side view of the mufti-purpose handle.
Fig-3 is a perspective front view of the mufti-purpose handle support arm.
Fig-4 is a perspective front view of the retractable leash.
Fig-S is a perspective back view of the retractable leash.

Fig-6 is a perspective side view of the mufti-purpose handle with the retractable leash between supports.
Fig-7 shows a perspective side view of the leash guide hole and locking device.
Fig-8 shows a perspective side view of the locking device.
Fig-9 shows a perspective end view of the locking device.
Fig-10 shows a perspective side view of the spring.
Fig-11 shows a perspective top view of the leash guide and locking device.
Fig-12 shows a perspective end view of the scoops.
Fig-13 shows a perspective end view of the scoops and mufti-purpose handle.
Fig-14 shows a perspective back view of the scoops.
Fig-15 shows a perspective side view of partially opened scoops between the mufti-purpose handle.
Fig-16 shows a perspective side view of a recycled grocery bag.
Fig-17 shows a perspective top view of the mufti-purpose device in a litter scooping position.
Fig-18 shows a perspective top view of the litter inside the scoops.
Fig-19 shows a perspective top view of the litter being disposed of.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings;
Fig-1 shows a mufti-purpose device generally. The device includes a horse shoe shaped handle 12, retractable leash 30 and 30', locking device 40, upper and lower scoops 50 and 52, and a recycled grocery bag 70.
Fig-2 shows a mufti-purpose horse shoe shaped handle 12, it has a support arm 14 which extends out the front part of handle 12.
Fig-3 shows a front view of the extended support arm. Support arm 14 is at a 90 degree angle downward, its purpose is to support retractable leash 30 and 30'.

2 Fig-4 shows a front view of retractable leash 30, it has two support guides 32 and 33, support arm 14, shown in Fig-3, slides between support guides 32 and 33.
Fig-5 shows the back view of retractable leash 30', it also has support guides 34 and 34'.
Mufti-purpose handle 12 has extended arms 16 and 18, shown in Fig-2, extended arm 16 fits between retractable leash support guides 34 and 34', support guides can be seen in Fig-5.
Retractable leash 30 and 30' is held firmly in place between support arm 14 and extended arm 16. Fig-6 shows a side view of mufti-purpose handle 12 and retractable leash 30 and 30'. The retractable leash 30 and 30' is fastened at the bottom part of extended arm 16, shown in Fig-6, with a screw 19. Fig-4 shows hole 36 which screw 19 is inserted through.
Fig-4 shows a front view of retractable leash 30, it shows an extended support arm 35, which interlocks with leash guide 20.
Fig-11 shows a top view of leash guide 20 and notch 21, the support arm 35 fits into notch 21 creating a leash guide hole 24, for leash 39, this is best seen in Fig-7.
Behind leash guide 20, shown in Fig-2 are guides 22 and 22', they are molded right into leash handle 12.
Fig-8 shows a locking device 40, it is designed with grooves.
Fig-9 shows an end view of locking device 40; grooves 44 and 44' allow locking device 40 to slide back and forth on guides 22 and 22'.
Fig-10 shows a spring, it attaches to notch 48 located underneath the back part of locking device 40; the other end of the spring attaches to notch 23 located on top of mufti-purpose handle 12 between guides 22 and 22'. The spring pulls the locking device forward, which pushes plastic shaft 42 up against retractable leash reel 36.
Fig-5 shows a lug 38, it comes up against locking device shaft 42, which holds leash reel 36 in a locked position which holds leash 39 at a preferred length. When locking device 40 is pulled back by using your thumb, shaft 42 is pulled back from lug 38, and reel 36 is able to move freely, allowing leash 39 to be adjusted to a desired length, best seen in Fig-7. Once the desired length of leash is maintained, the user removes their thumb from the locking device, the spring then pulls locking device forward into a locked position, keeping the leash at a desired length.
Fig-11 shows a top view of lacking device 40 and leash guide 20.
Fig-1 shows an upper scoop 50 and a lower scoop 52, which are held between mufti-purpose handle 12. Pegs 26 and 26', as seen in Fig-2, hold scoops 50 and 52 in place.
Mufti-purpose handle 12 has to be flexed to a wider opening to enable pegs 26 and 26'to slip into holes 54 and 54', shown in Fig-l2.When mufti-purpose handle 12 flexes back to its original

3 shape, scoops 50 and 52 are held between mufti-purpose handle 12. Scoop 52 is able to pivot on pegs 26 and 26'. The purpose of the pivoting motion will be described in greater detail later on in this document.
Upper scoop 50 is designed with a sloped angle which can be seen in Fig-12.
This allows sliders 28 and 28', shown in Fig-2, to ride up on upper scoop 50, as the angle decreases sliders 28 and 28' force upper scoop 50 downward against lower scoop 52. When sliders 28 and 28' comes up against stopper 5C, shown in Fig-12, scoops 50 and 52 are held in a closed position. Fig-13 shows an end view of mufti-purpose handle 12, and scoops 50 and 52 in a closed position. Multi-purpose handle 12 and scoops 50 and 52 remain in this position while walking the pet.
Fig-14 shows a plastic hinge 60, it is molded right into the back middle part of scoops 50 and 52.
Hinge 60 and the pivoting motion of scoops 50 and 52 allow the user to create a scooping motion. When it is time to scoop refuse or litter, the user activates scoops 50 and 52 by pulling scoop handle 58 forward with the same hand which is holding mufti-purpose handle 12. This can be done with the users two front fingers. The users hand never lets go of the mufti-purpose handle 12, so the pet owner can clean up after their pet and still be able to maintain control of their pet.
Fig-15 shows the mufti-purpose handle 12 and scoop handle 58 after being pulled forward.
Scoops 50 and 52 are now in a partially opened position. Scoops 50 and 52 are then lined with a recycled grocery bag, shown in Fig-16. The bag can be stored inside scoops 50 and 52 until it is needed. The bottom part of bag 70 is stuffed into partially opened scoops 50 and 52, scoops 50 and 52 are then closed. The bottom of bag 70 is held in scoops 50 and 52, the remainder of bag 70 is folded back over the mufti-purpose device Fig-1. Bag handles 72 and 72' are folded around and held in the same hand that is holding mufti-purpose handle 12. With scoops 50 and 52 lined with bag 70, the user can now retrieve refuse or litter. When retrieving refuse or litter, the user would hold onto bag handle 72, and scoop handle 58 with left hand, and the right hand would hold mufti-purpose handle 12 and bag handle 72'. Scoops 50 and 52 are activated into a scooping motion by using scoop handle 58, and mufti-purpose handle 12. Fig-17 shows device in a scooping position.
Once litter is inside scoops 50 and 52, as shown in Fig-18, scoops 50 and 52 are now put into a locked position between mufti-purpose handle 12. Fig-13 shows an end view of this position.
The excess bag 70 can then be gathered and twisted; with scoops 50 and 52 partially open, as shown in Fig-15. The excess bag can be stuffed into scoops 50 and 52 along with the litter. With scoops 50 and 52 in a locked position, the user can carry on walking their pet until appropriate disposal is available.
When disposing of the litter, the user can activate scoops 50 and 52 into an open position by using the mufti-purpose handle 12 and scoop handle 58. Bag and litter can then be dumped in appropriate disposal, as shown in Fig-19. Once the litter is dumped, scoops 50 and 52 are put back into a locked position between mufti-purpose handle 12. The pet owner can then continue on walking their pet.

4 The lower part of retractable leash 30 and 30' has been designed with a storage compartment 31, which can be seen in Fig-15. The user can store an extra bag in compartment 31, which makes it convenient for the user.
FABRICATION
Mufti-purpose handle 12 is fabricated in one piece, using a suitable resilient plastic material.
Retractable leash 30 and 30' are made in two pieces, they are made from a resilient, plastic material. They fasten together holding leash reel 36 in between. The leash reel is also made from a plastic material.
Scoops SO and 52 are fabricated in one piece, which includes a plastic hinge 60 and a plastic scoop handle 58.
Locking device 40 is fabricated in one piece using a suitable resilient plastic material. Using resilient plastic materials makes this apparatus durable and inexpensive to manufacture.
It will be appreciated that numerous changes and modifications can be made to the embodiment shown herein without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.